CBS News Rushes to Secure Dokoupil for ‘Evening News’ as DuBois Announces Exit: ‘He Went Rogue’

CBS News moved quickly on Thursday to finalize a deal with “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil to anchor “CBS Evening News,” following Maurice DuBois’ unexpected announcement that he will leave the network later this month, as reported by The New York Post.

Multiple sources said negotiations accelerated after DuBois disclosed his departure on Instagram, a move that caught network executives off guard.

Dokoupil has been considered a leading contender for the role and is viewed as a top choice of Editor in Chief Bari Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski.

“CBS Evening News” anchor Maurice DuBois is departing CBS News.

DuBois announced on Instagram Thursday that his last day will be Dec. 18. His exit comes after a revamp of the “CBS Evening News” format spurred noticeable ratings declines.https://t.co/2a2RTAejea pic.twitter.com/K2nUsjpPhF

— Variety (@Variety) December 4, 2025

While sources said the deal is not yet final, the network was working to renegotiate Dokoupil’s contract with his agent, UTA’s Jay Sures, after DuBois publicly revealed his plans.

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According to sources familiar with the matter, DuBois was told last week that he was not “the future” of “CBS Evening News.”

One source said the discussion prompted him to go “off-script” by announcing his exit earlier than expected.

The network had intended to announce his departure alongside the announcement of his replacement, originally planned for the New Year.

Cibrowski disputed the characterization that DuBois acted independently. In a statement late Thursday, he said he had “worked directly with Maurice for 2 weeks, who is a complete professional, on announcing his departure.”

Earlier in the day, however, other insiders insisted the opposite. “He went rogue,” one CBS insider said, adding that DuBois’ announcement forced the company to speed up its timeline.

DuBois said his last day at CBS, where he has worked for 21 years, will be December 18. He joined “CBS Evening News” in January as co-anchor alongside John Dickerson.

Dickerson announced in October that he planned to leave the network at the end of the year, with his final day scheduled for December 19.

While Cibrowski released a memo thanking DuBois for his service, CBS did not address who will assume control of the “Evening News” broadcast.

Sources said an announcement naming Dokoupil as the new anchor is expected in the coming days.

Weiss had previously considered a broader list of potential replacements, including Fox News’ Bret Baier and Dana Perino, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman.

However, those candidates remain under long-term contracts and would require more substantial financial commitments than the network is currently positioned to make.

Dokoupil’s comparatively lower salary reportedly made him a more realistic choice for CBS as it balances budget constraints.

His possible move raises questions about how the network will restructure its morning show lineup. Some insiders have speculated about potential changes involving Gayle King or Nate Burleson.

King’s $13 million salary has drawn internal scrutiny, though one source suggested her future at the network could depend on whether management can reduce that compensation.

Burleson, who also earns a multimillion-dollar salary, has been mentioned as another possible departure.

“It’s a game of chess,” a second CBS source said. “It all depends on where the chips fall.”

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